Oil-still



(No Model.)

- J. THols/IAS.

OIL STILL..

10.282,239. Patented July s1, 188s.

l'zwenor,

` ZM "Timm N UNITED STATES PATENT @Erica JOSHUA THOMAS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

QiLLSTILL. y

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentiNo. 282,239, dated July` 31, 1883,

Application tiled May :'14, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSHUA THOMAS, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oil-Stills, of which the follow# Aing is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for distilling petroleum, and has for its obj ect to provide a means for continuous distillation, in which there isa very large proportion of graduated heating-surface by which rapid and graduated continuous evaporation takes place.

The apparatus consists of a large number of perpendicular pipes arranged in continuous rows, all depending from one common evaporating-chamber.` The said pipes are coupled in rows at the bottom in such a manner-that the petroleum is conveyed alternately up and down continuously through from the first to the last series of pipes, also through divided spaces inthe evaporating-chambersuccessively and alternately between each downward set of pipes, whereby in its long continuous course it is brought into vcontact with a very large amount of heating-surface, resulting in a rapid progressive distillation. Betweenthe said rows of pipes are placed thin partitions, open alternatelyat top and bottom, so as to make along zigzag circuit' for the heating element to pass through. The heat is introduced at the opposite end of the series of pipes to that in which the petroleum is introduced, thus applying the heat so as to operate to eliminate the lighter gravities at a point-most distant from point of introducing heat, and the heaviest at said hottest point, thereby obtaining all the grades of product in one continuous process. The severall grades are conveyed from the evaporatingchamber by pipes for condensation inthe usual manner. Y

In the drawing the figure is a perspective view, partly in section Aand partly broken away to show internal construction. y

A is an evaporating-chamber, made preferably of sheet metal, of such proportions and dimensions as maybe most convenient. To the bottom of said chamber is attached a set of pipes, B B, all opening into said chamber and having free communication therewith. They are grouped in close order and in straight rows across the bottom, and are coupled at their lower ends, forming two ranks or double rows by connecting every two rows at the bottom with narrow cross-pipes or chambers C C, thus making every odd-numbered row a downward and every evennumbered row an upward ilue.

The chamber A is divided into four or as many compartments as may be required for obtaining the various products, and also has low'partitions a a placed crosswise and between the openings of each odd-numbered pipeand its even-numbered mate, so that the iiow from the even-numbered pipe-openings in the evap orating is into the even-numbered pipes, and so on successively up and down throughout the whole The said combination of pipes is" inclos'ed in chamber composed, preferably, of brick walls, which also supports, the chamber A. Between the said rows of pipes are placedthin partitions D D, reaching across from sidewall to side wall. Every other partition` is attached to the bottom oi' chamber A and depending therefrom to` about one-thirdA the distance from the bottom of lower chamber. The other or each alternate partition, D", reaches from the bottom of said lower chamber to within about one-third the distance from the top, or within that dista-nce from the bottom of said chamber A. This arrangement ofpartitions is for the purpose of conveying the heat alternately up and down between said pipes, thus dividing the heat from its inlet to its outlet in such a manner that all the gravities of product are the result. a

A The chamber-connections C C are provided with necks or pipes c c, which project out through the side walls, having suitable plugs or caps for closing them. These are provided for the purpose of enabling said chambers to be cleaned, and also for the purpose of introducing a vapor to assist in the evaporation and to deodorize the oils as distillation progresses. To the top of chamber A are provided anumber of pipes, E E, for the escape or discharge of the several vapors as they are generated in said chamber, from' whence they are conveyed to condensers.

F is a reservoir for containing the crude petroleum. It consistsof a vessel having an outer jacket for providing a surrounding space, into which the exhaust-heat from the pipechamber is conveyed, it being connected therewith by a pipe, j', for that purpose. The said reservoir `is connected by pipe I to the evaporating chamber A, near its bottom, so as to lead the material into the first space, a. rlhence it must pass down the first row of pipes, B, as the low partition a prevents its ilow over the bottom of chamber A. It must next pass up the sccond row of pipes and again into the chamber A, thence down the third roW and up the fourth, and so onvuntil it reaches the discharge O at the farther end. The material is thus conveyed successively through the several evaporatingchambers in one direction while the heat is passing in the pipe-chamber in the opposite direction. By this means the material is brought into contact with the lesserheat iirst, and so on to the greatest heat last. The heat for this purpose may be superheated steam, vapor, or hot air, as maybe desired, and produced by any of the Well-known means.

From the foregoing the operation oi' this dcvice is obviously as follows: The petroleum being introduced as described, the lighter products are eliminated iirst and the heavier gravi.- ties in rapid succession down to the residuum Without the danger of scorching or discoloration. Vith the jacketed reservoir heated at a proper temperature, the lightest productesame naphthamight be obtained. In the rst compartment of chamber Ais eliminated gasoline, the neXt is a line burning-oil; the third is paraffine or Wax, and from the fourth is obtained a line lubricating oil.

Having described my invention, I clai1nvto said evaporating-chamber and through the heated pipes in one direction, While the heat is conveyed in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

JOSHUA THGMAS. Vvlitnesses:

M. G. NORTON, GEO. XV. TIBBrrTs. 

